Tennessee uses a 44 item inspection sheet with a maximum of 100 points. Thirteen of the items are considered critical. Critical items, found out of compliance, must be corrected within ten days. Follow-up inspections are conducted to determine compliance on critical items. Failure to correct critical violations or imminent health hazards result in closure of establishments until corrections are made. Serious or repeated violations may result in revocation of the establishment's permit.
Scores shown on this web site dated prior to April 9, 1998 do not include follow-up inspection scores. Those scores are from the original inspection and do not note any follow-up corrective action. Inspection scores after that date are either from the original inspection if no-follow up was required or are scores that resulted from follow-up inspections where points have been added to credit establishments for corrective action. An individual restaurant inspection score is a "snapshot" of the condition of the establishment at the time of inspection. A single inspection score is not necessarily indicative of the inspection history of the facility. The scores are used as a tool by the State and industry to place a value on compliance to the regulations, educate the operators, and thereby encourage corrective action.
Complete records of food service establishments are public records and are available for public viewing at your local health department. If you have questions or comments, contact your local health department or e-mail us here at TN.Health@state.tn.us